NFC North Notes: Bears, Lions, Vikings

Bears

According to the Athletic’s Joe Person, the Bears were never really in play to trade for Panthers QB Cam Newtonbecause of concerns about his health.

NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo says the Colts and Jaguars were circling around a potential deal for QB Nick Foles involving a fifth-round pick before Jacksonville sent him to Chicago for their compensatory fourth-round pick.

Field Yates reports that the Bears restructured the contract of G Cody Whitehair to give them some cap flexibility for their Foles trade.

Bears DE Robert Quinn‘s five-year, $70 million deal includes a $3 million signing bonus, with base salaries of $3 million, $11.5 million, $12.8 million, $13.9 million and $12.9 million. (Aaron Wilson)

Quinn’s 2020 and 2021 base salaries are fully guaranteed. He also has a $12.5 million fully guaranteed roster bonus due March 23 and annual workout bonuses in 2021-2024.

Lions

Lions LB Jamie Collins‘ three-year, $30 million deal includes $18 million guaranteed, $7 million of which is a signing bonus. (Aaron Wilson)

Collins has base salaries of salaries $4 million guaranteed (2020), $8.8 million with $7 million guaranteed (2021) and $9.8 million (2022). He also has $200,000 workout bonuses in 2021 and 2022.

Lions QB Chase Daniel‘s three-year, $13.05 million deal includes a $2.25 million signing bonus, base salaries of $1.25 million guaranteed, $4.3 million, $1.5 million which is guaranteed, and $5 million. (Wilson)

Daniel has up to $250,000 maximum in per-game active roster bonuses and can void the final year if he repays $1 million and tells the team between the sixth and 14th day following the 2021 Super Bowl.

Lions OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai‘s five-year, $45 million deal includes a $7 million signing bonus and base salaries of $4 million (2020), $9 million (2021), $6.5 million (2022), $8.9 million (2023) and $8.9 million (2024. The first two years are guaranteed. (Wilson)

Vaitai also has a $500,000 playing-time incentive in 2024, a $1.5 million playing-time base escalator in 2023 and up to $3 million in a playing-time base escalator in 2024.

Vikings

Per Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press, Vikings DE Everson Griffen still has not ruled out a return to Minnesota per a source close to the player: “The Vikings still would love to have him back. I think it’s really just figuring out a price that works for everyone and (Griffen looking to see) kind of what else potentially might be out there. He obviously loves Minnesota.”

Griffen could still be waiting on some other younger defensive ends to set the market and could land in the $8-$10 million a year range. (Tomasson)

Ben Goessling reports that the Vikings talked with G Josh Kline about restructuring his deal to stay, but they were unable to come to an agreement and he was released.

Goessling adds that there’s still a chance Kline could be back with the Vikings.